THE heaviest snowfall in four years hit the Ledbury area on Sunday, December 10, with disruption rumbling on into Monday, leading to school closures, as severe weather warnings remained in place.

Officially, an average of 17cm of snow fell on Herefordshire in Sunday, but deeper snow was observed and reported in places.

The seasonal weather did not bring all doom and gloom, however, as snowmen appeared quickly on Ledbury's Recreation Ground and elsewhere and, despite blizzard conditions, a number of local people decided on a Sunday morning stroll, to take in the sights.

The first flakes fell shortly before 4am on Sunday morning, giving only a light dusting at first; but by 6am the snow was settling well and heavy snowfall continued throughout the day.

This Monday (December 11), there were multiple school closures across the region, including the John Masefield High School; Ledbury Primary; Ashperton Primary; Much Marcle Primary; Bosbury Primary; Eastnor Primary, Bromesberrow Primary; Ann Cam Primary; Picklenash Junior School and the Glebe Infants School.

Because of continuing low temperatures, the Met Office still has a yellow warning in place for the Ledbury area, for Monday morning.

The Ledbury area remains snow-covered and temperatures are not expected to rise above zero, and they could fall as low as minus 11 degrees Celsius.

Driving conditions could therefore be hazardous.

A West Mercia police spokesman said of conditions on Monday morning: "Our advice remains the same; please only travel if necessary."

Herefordshire Council has also issued a severe weather warning. All of its recycling centres are closed today (Monday), and rubbish collections were also cancelled for the day.

The "First" bus company cancelled the following services for the Ledbury area - 417,675 and 600.

But DRM was reported to be still operating the 476 service from Ledbury to Hereford, and also the 420 service from Bromyard to Herefordshire.

However, because of the adverse weather conditions, DRM took the decision to operate no evening services on Monday, after 5.50pm.

A number of train services between Hereford and Birmingham were reported to have been cancelled.

A National Rail spokesman said: "Poor weather conditions are affecting West Midlands Railway services today."

A meeting of Herefordshire Council's Scrutiny Panel as been postponed, because of the adverse weather conditions.